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Organization honors Civil War soldiers

| 02 Aug 2016 | 12:05
    The Civil War era flag flies during the rededication of the "Defenders of the Union" Monument.
    The Civil War era flag flies during the rededication of the "Defenders of the Union" Monument.
    Sussex County Historian Wayne T. McCabe gives a brief history lesson of the monument before its rededication.
    Sussex County Historian Wayne T. McCabe gives a brief history lesson of the monument before its rededication.
    The "Defenders of the Union" Monument stands guard in Newton Green.
    The "Defenders of the Union" Monument stands guard in Newton Green.
    Jeff Heagy, of Bugles Across America, plays taps at the Memorial Service for Civil War Soldiers.
    Jeff Heagy, of Bugles Across America, plays taps at the Memorial Service for Civil War Soldiers.
    PHOTOS BY VERA OLINSKI Vice Regent Wendy Wyman honors the grave of Civil War Soldier William H. West, an African American Civil War Soldier.
    PHOTOS BY VERA OLINSKI Vice Regent Wendy Wyman honors the grave of Civil War Soldier William H. West, an African American Civil War Soldier.

NEWTON — Culpepper. Five Forks. Williamsburg. Fredericksburg. Cold Harbor. Gettysburg. Appomattox. These are just a few of the 22 engagements in which Sussex County Civil War soldiers fought.
On Saturday, July 30, members of the Private Joseph Bessette Chapter, National Society Daughters of the Union 1861-65, honored the memory of 19 Civil War Soldiers buried in the Old Newton Burial Ground and rededicated the “Defenders of the Union” Monument on Newton Green.
A light breeze stirred the Civil War era flag, as Regent Jennifer Norato said a memorial prayer, among almost 20 attendees.
Vice Regent Wendy Wyman read the 19 Civil War Soldier names and added, “May God also bless the Civil War Soldiers whose graves we have yet to find.”
The members then placed flowers upon all 19 graves. With each flower, the member said, “May grace, mercy, and love abide with us all, now and ever more. Amen.”
Of the three tombs Wyman visited, she first honored the tomb of Private William H. West, an African American Civil War Soldier.
Wyman's own relative, Henry Burry, is buried in the Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery in Pittsburgh, Pa.
After all the members had placed flowers and prayers upon the honored dead, they gathered to hear Jeff Heagy, of Bugles Across America, play taps, which peacefully floated throughout the cemetery.
Later Wyman said this is only the beginning, because their chapter was recently chartered April 30 of this year.
Norato said she organized the chapter and named it after her third great-grandfather from Vermont. Appropriately, she is a middle school history teacher in Bergen County.
The group then walked down to the “Defenders of the Union” Monument on Newton Green. Sussex County Historian Wayne T. McCabe gave a brief history lesson of the monument before its re-dedication.
McCabe said after the war, Sussex County debated whether or not to erect a monument, because residents had fought for both the North and South. Finally, in 1894, the County Freeholders decided to proceed at the County Seat.
In June of 1895, they broke ground. Ultimately, the monument cost under $5,900, said McCabe, including the cast iron fence. There also were two cannons and two mortar pieces at each of the four corners. However, during World War II, in 1942, the cannons and mortars were sacrificed to a scrap metal drive.
On Sept. 5, 1895, the monument was originally dedicated with 8,000 people attending from all around the county. McCabe said it was the same number of people as the current population of Newton today.
Finally, in remembrance of their relatives, the “Daughters of the Union” rededicated the “Defenders of the Union” monument. Norato reminded them, what is needed today is “a dedication to great ideals.